Packaging machine



March 2, 1954 J. H. STROOP PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 29, 1951 INVENTOR. fly 6/100 4 "m HTTURNEY March 2, 1954 J. H. S I'ROOP PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 29, 1951 JNVENTOR. 11: 51 110014 J02 BY nnnn uww as g max

HTTORIVEY J. H. STROOP PACKAGING MACHINE March 2, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 06'0- 29, 1951 March 2, 1954 J. H. STROOP momma MACHINE Filed 001;. 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Stroofl Patented Mar. 2, 1954 PACKAGING MACHINE John H. Stroop, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Pad-Y-Wax Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 29, 1951, Serial No. 253,641

22 Claims.

This invention pertains to packaging machines,

and more particularly relates to a machine for enclosing. tablets, capsules, lozenges or other articles between two webs 'of flexible, heat-sealable material, such as cellophane or material having a thermoplastic coating.

The present application is related to my copending application, which is now issued as Patent 2,608,809, September 2, 1952, wherein is disclosed a machine for continuously forming article-containing packages of two webs of flexible packaging materialwherein the webs are fed between a pair of cooperating, continuously rotating sealing rollers having corresponding article-defining pocket peripherally spaced there'- on. The articles to be packaged are fed through a hollow mandrel which reciprocates in timed relationship'with the rollers and spreads the webs into the pockets thereon. The rollers are heated, and as the Webs pass therebetweemthey'are sealed together except at localities corresponding to the pockets.

The articles are fed from a hopper onto a vibrating feed table which advances them toward and into the substantially horizontal, upper end of an arcuate duct. The articles then drop by gravity through the duct to the substantially vertical lower end thereof, on which the mandrel is carried, so that the duct and the mandrel reciprocate together. Also, at its lower end, the duct is provided with means operable in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the duct and the mandrel to regulate the flow of-articlesinto the mandrel. j Such a machine may be provided withmultiple packaging means. For example, it maybedesired to. produce packages having two parallel rows of article-containing pockets. The ma.- chine illustrated in said patent is of that type, with two ducts, two mandrels and two sets of pockets on each roller.

A machine as outlined above performs its functions very well and is in commercial use. However, as will be appreciated, it is not easily adaptable to packaging articles of varying sizes and shapes.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a machine having universal feeding means which is easily adjustable to accommodate articles of differing sizes and shapes, within predetermined limits.

At the same time the present invention discloses a machine of simpler and cheaper construction than the machine of said copending ap,--

plication, in .thatlthe reciprocating arcuate duct may eliminated, and its place is taken and; its

function performed by an inclined stationary tube or chute. Means may be included for adjusting the cross-sectional area and shape of the chute to provide the universal feeding means referred to above.

The mandrel, which is separate from the adjustable chute, reciprocates in a truly vertical path directly above the intersection of the sealing rollers.

The machine has the advantage of attaining higher operating speeds and thereby increasing its capacity to produce because the feed mechanism is relatively stationary and doe not reciprocate with the mandrel and therefore the weight of the reciprocating parts is less than would otherwise be required.

Articles may be conveniently fed from a hopper into one end. of a vibrating trough having a vertical side and a side which is inclined at 30, for example, with the horizontal. The end of the trough remote from the hopper is adjacent the upper end of the chute (there being a slight clearance), and the articles to be packaged drop off that end of the trough and fall into the chute, all in predetermined position.

The mandrel has an escapement bar which, when the mandrel is in it up position, covers the lower end of the chute to hold the articles therein. When the mandrel starts its downward motion, the escapement bar opens the end of the chute, permitting a predetermined article-increment to drop through the mandrel.

Means timed with the mandrel may be provided to regulate at will the number of articles which will pass through the mandrel on each downward stroke thereof.

Means are preferably provided for regulating the rate at which articles are fed from the hopper, and such means will normally be adjusted so that articles emerge from the hopper slightly faster than they are packaged. Therefore, means may be included for taking 01f the overflow. The illustrated means is a distribution plate with adjustable wings.

Occasionally a broken article will be advanced along thetrough, and as it is desirable that such an article not be packaged, means may be included for removing such article from the trough.

As illustrated herein, the machine will produce a dual product, that is, one having two parallel rows of packages. This means that there .are two troughs, two inclined chutes and two mandrels, all side by side. The distance between each pair of elements is-constant for all article configurations.

Important objects of the invention are, thereis fore, to provide a machine which will attain all the above-mentioned advantages.

The above and other objects and advantages will appear more clearly from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of the machine of Fig. 1, not showing the hopper and the ends of the vibrating troughs toward the hopper;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing details of the article-feeding mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing the mandrels at their lowermost position;

Fig. 5 is a side view showing a mandrel at its uppermost position;

i Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 5-6 of Fig. 3, showing details of the adjustable chutes;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 'I-l of Fig. 1, showing details of the troughs and an ex ample of means for removing broken articles from the troughs;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the shape and mounting of the mandrels;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1, showing details of the articlcfeeding means from the hopper;

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken on line Ill-16 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line i i-il .of Fig. 10.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the various views.

To refer at first particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, for a general understanding of the structure and its operation of the illustrated example of the invention, a pair of adjacent sealing rollers 10 and 12 have their respective, parallel shafts l4 and i8 horizontally supported in the same horizontal plane near the top of and between two vertical side plates l8 and of a frame 22 having a horizontal base 24. The rollers Hi and I2 are positioned to abut each other at a vertical, tangential sealing location 25 therebetween.

Two parallel bars 26 and 28 are horizontally mounted on the top of the plates It and 29 to which they are attached at their forward ends. The rearward ends of the bars 26 and 28 are supported by a vertical post 39.

A first r011 32 of a web 34 of flexible, heat-sealable packaging material is mounted on a horizontal axis 35 on an arm 38 extending forward from one of the plates i8 and 20,

A. second roll 4! of a web 42, which may be of material identical with that of the web 34. is mounted on a horizontal axis 44 supported beneath the bars 26 and 28 by a bracket 45 intel-mediate the frame 22 and the post 3 1.

A sprocket 46, which is rigidly mounted on the shaft 14 of the roller H3, is driven clockwise, as seen in Fig. l, byan electric motor 48 sprockets .50 and 52 and a chain 5 5.

A gear 58 (Figs. 2 and 4) rigidly mounted on the shaft 14 of the roller Hl meshes with a similar gear 58 (Fig. 2) rigidly mounted on the shaft !6 oi the roller l2. Thus, the rollers 10 and i2 are correspondingly rotated in opposite directions.

The roller it is provided with two series of recesses or pockets 6!! and 82 peripherally spaced therearound, and the roller 52 may be similarly provided with two like series of recesses or pockets 64 and 66. The pockets 60, 64 and 62, 66 correspond and are designed to register as the roller It and 12 are rotated. The pockets $0 and .32 are axially separated by a distance d, and the pockets 64 and G6 are likewise separated by the same distance. For reasons which will appear more clearly hereinafter, the distance d is a constant for all article sizes.

The webs 34 and 42 are passed downwardly through the sealing location 25 between the rollers H) and 12, which are heated by means not shown to a temperature sufficient to render thewebs plastic or tacky. The webs 34 and 42 are pressedtogether by the rollers it and ii at the sealing location 25, and the heat and the pressure combine to seal the webs together, except at localities defined by the registering pockets 69, as and 62, 65.

The articles emanate from an open-bottomed downwardlyefacing spout t? of a hopper 88 mounted near the top of the post 39. The rearward ends, generally indicated at E9, of two horlzontal, parallel troughs it and 12, are beneath and on either side of the hopper base Bl. These troughs, having forward ends indicated generally at l l are scparated'by spacers l4, l5 and .11.

The troughs T0 and 72 are open-topped, and have a modified V-shaped vertical cross-Section (see Fig. 11). Thus, the troughs l0 and 12 have parallel vertical sides '16 and 18, respectively, affixed to the spacers l4, l5 and 11, and upwardly and outwardly inclined sides and 82, respectively, joined to their corresponding vertical sides It and 18 at the bottom. Th rearward ends Ell of the troughs "i0 and 12 ar closed by a vertical back plat 2 l0.

Immediately below the hopper base 6'! is a distribution plate 2l2, which is mounted, as by screws 2M, on a horizontal strip 216, the screws 2E4 also serving to afflx the strip 216 at its ends to the spacers l5 and TI.

The distribution plate 212 has vertical front and rear walls 218 and 220, respectively, the rear wall being secured, as by welding, to the front surface of the back plate 2 I ii.

The main part of the distribution plate 212 is in general horizontal, but is slightly higher along its longitudinal center 222 (see especially Fig. '11) than along its longitudinal edges 224 and 226, which respectively overhang the troughs l0 and 12 (Fig. 11).

An article guide 228 is secured as by Welding to the front wall 2l8 of the distribution plate 212 and has wings 230 and 232 extending rearwardly .from the wall 2l8 on either side of the hopper base 61 to a location near the back plate 2E0. The wings 230 and 232 correspond respectively to the edges .224 and 226 of the distribution plate 212.

Thus, the articles to be packaged emerge from the hopper base 61 onto the distribution plate ,2l2 and substantially equally onto both sides of the high center 222 thereof. The plate 212 is vibrated (as will be described) and such vibration (plus gravity) causes the articles to proceed outwardly away from the center 222, and the wings 23D and 232 (because of the pressure of succeeding articles) guide the articles rearwardly, until they pass through openings 234 and 236 (see especially Fig. 9) defined by the back plate m, and the wings 232 and 232, respectively, and slide over the edges 224 and 225 of the distribution plate 2l2, respectively, and fall into the corresponding troughs T0 and 12. j

The rate of flow of articles into the troughs I and I2 is dependent upon the size of the articles and the size of the corresponding openings 234 and 236. Therefore, the wings 230 and 232 are made adjustable, as by bending them about axes 238 and 240, respectively (Fig. 11). Thus may the size of the openings 234 and 236 be adjusted to accommodate'articles of varying sizes and to regulate the rate of article flow.

The distribution plate 2 I2, the back plate 2I0, the strip 2| 6, the walls 2I8 and 220, the guide 228, etc. appear also in Fig. 1, but are not numbered thereon, for the sake of clarity.

The V-shaped configuration of the troughs I8 and I2 causes the articles to assume definite positions therein. For example, the illustrated articles (Figs. 3, -7) are tablets 84 which will flop over with their large dimensions parallel to the inclined sides of the troughs 10 and I2 (see Fig. '7). If the articles were elongated capsules,

they would lie in the bottom of the troughs with their long dimensions lengthwise of the trough thereof.

' The spacer I4 holds the troughs I0 and I2 so that the articles will be separated by a distance slightly more than d (see above).

Good results are attained with troughs in which the inclined sides 80 and 82 make an angle of about 30 with the horizontal, as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Atany rate, the spacers I4, and 11 are 'mounted upon a vibrating table, indicated generally at 86 (Fig. 1) having one end affixed to the post 30 and carried upon the bars 26 and 28, as by blocks 88 and 90. which is actuated by a solenoid 92, vibrates the troughs I0 and 12 to throw articles therein up in the air at, for example, a 15 angle to the left. Thus, with each vibration the articles will fall back against the troughs at a closer to the forward ends 'II of the troughs I0 and I2. The vibrations are very slight and are not violent enough to disturb the alignment of the articles in the troughs.

The distribution plate 2I2 (including its front and rear walls 2I8 and 220) and the guide 228 with its wings 230 and 232 are likewise vibrated, by reason of these parts being mounted on the strip 2I6 carried rigidly on the spacers I5, 11.

As the articles and I2 toward the forward end 'II thereof, they line up in single file in their'characteristic predetermined positions.

There is often quite a bit of dust (from the articles) in the troughs, and occasionally a broken article comes along. It is desirable that such dust or broken article not find its way any further than the forward end II of the troughs -I0 and I2. Accordingly, an escape for such ma terial is provided shortly before it reaches the forward end II of the troughs I0 and I2. Each trough is provided with such an escape or diverter, and the diverter for the trough 10 will now be described.

Near the forward end II of the trough I0 is a slot 94 through the vertical side 18, the slot extending a predetermined distance lengthwise of the side I6. The bottom of the slot 94 is at the joint between the inclined side 80 and the vertical side It, and is arranged to form a smooth downward passage for flow of material through the slot. A vertically adjustable plate 98 covers the top of the slot 94 and is connected to the vertical side 18 by screws 88, through corresponding, vertically elongated slots (not shown). I

The vibrating table 86,

location slightly proceed along the troughs I0 Thus, the effective height of the slot 94 is-determined by the setting of the screws 98 in their elongated slots, and depending uponthat setting, material up to a given maximum height-can escape through the slot 94. A broken tablet 84b is shown in position to fall through the slot 94.

The trough I2 is provided with a similar diverter, having a slot I00, a plate I02, screws I04 and elongated slots I06 (see Figs. 1, 3 and 7).

For the type of tablet shown in the drawings, it has been found not to be feasible to try to set the plates 96 and I02 to give escape to broken tablets which retain more than about 75% of their original thickness.

A dust and broken article bin I09 is positioned to catch the material which passes through the slots 94 and I00.

Positioned with their upper ends adjacent and aligned with the forward ends 'II of the troughs I0 and I2 are a pair of parallel, stationary chutes I08 and H0 of rectangular transverse section. The chutes I08 and III! are inclined downwardly from their respective troughs I0 and I2 atan angle of 45, for example. j

The chutes I08 and H0 have a common base portion II2, comprised of a bottom plate 4 and a central block N3 of rectangular, transverse section projecting upwardly from the center of the plate I I4, and extending substantially the entire length thereof. The thickness of the block II6 is preferably the same as the spacing of the troughs I0 and I2, i. e. slightly greater than d, the distance separating the two series of pockets on the rollers I 0 and I2.

As shown, the plate H4 and the block I I6 are integrally formed, but they may be made sepa rately if desired. i

The upper surface of the bottom plate I I4 and one of the vertical surfaces of the block II6 form two intersecting sides of the rectangular chute I08, and the upper surface of the lbottom plate I I4 and the other vertical surface of the block IIB form two intersecting sides of the rectangu} lar chute I I0.

The top side of the chute I08 is defined by a vertically adjustable guide rail II8 which is secured to the corresponding vertical surface of the block IIE by screws I20 passing through vertically elongated slots I22 in the guide rail I I8. The rail I I8 has its lower edge parallel to the upper surface of the plate H4, and is separated from the corresponding vertical surface of the block IIB by a collar I24 on each screw I20, between the rail H8 and the block II6. Such separation is preferably a distance equal to about onehalf the average lateral dimension of the articles (as they come from the trough I0) which the machine is to be called upon to package.

By loosening the screws I20, the guide rail IIB may be moved up or down to position the same with its lower edge separated from the plate 4 by a distance equal to the thickness of the articles tov be packaged.

The chute III) has a similar vertically adjustable guide rail I26, with similar screws I28, vertical slots I and collars I32.

The outer side of the chute I08 is defined Joya laterally adjustable guide rail I34 which is secured to the upper surface of the plate II 4 by screws I36 and nuts I38.

' The screws I38 pass through laterally elongated slots I 48 in the lateral guide rail I 34, which has its inner edge parallel to the corresponding vertical surface of the block II6. j

By loosening the screws I33, the guide rail I34 may bezmovedcloser tozorfurther from the block Ill 6 toposition the same with its inner edge separated from the block .IIB by a distance equalto lateral dimension of the articles to be packaged.

,The'chute Ht hasa similar laterally adjustable guide rail N52, with similar screws I44, nuts I46 and laterally elongatedslots I681 The guide rails I18, I25, I34 and I42 are shown in Fig. 6 properly adjusted for the tablets 84, the dimensions of the chutes I68 and III) being defined, respectively, by the plate I14, the block H6 and the guide rails I29 and I34, and the plate 4, .the block IIS and the guide rails I26 and I42.

Thus, when articles reach the forward end II of vthe troughs 1i and -I2 in predetermined position, they fall gently into the chutes I23 and I Hi and slide down to the lower ends thereof, lined up in single file as shown by the tablets 84 in Figs. 3 and 5.

In the normal operation of the machine, as aforesaid, the troughs and I2 deliver articles slightly faster than they are packaged, so that articles line up in the chutes I08 and III? all the way to the upper .ends thereof. Therefore, some articles will fall out between the troughs It! and J2 and .their respective chutes I58 and H3, at theforward end II of the former. This overflow is caught in an overflow bin I positioned beneath the point of overflow. When enough articles are in the bin I50, the operator may pour them back into the hopper 68.

The upper ends of the chutes I08 and III! are held in place by a bracket I52, the lower end of which is secured to the bars 26 and 23, as at I54.

The lower ends of the chutes I08 and H0 are mounted on a bracket I which is secured to the bars25 and 28.

Positioned at the lower ends of the chutes I63 and .I I0 are two mandrels I56 and I58, respectively, directly above the sealing location 25 between the rollers III and I2, which are vertically reciprocable, by means which will be described, to spread the webs 34 and 42 into the pockets. The mandrel I56 thus pushes one of the webs into the pockets 66 on the roller I2 and the other web into the pockets $2 on the roller II), and the mandrel I58 pushes one of the webs into the pockets 64 on the roller I2 and the other web into the pockets 58 on the roller It. The mandrels I56 and I58 are timed, by means which will be described, to perform said spreading action just as corresponding pockets arecoming together. i

The mandrels IE6 and I38 have extensions I and IE2, respectively, which will ment bars hereinafter. The escapement bars I68 and I52 are positioned so that when their respective mandrels I58 and I58 are at the upper ends of their reciprocating strokes, the escapement bars Its and I62 will cover the lower ends of the chutes I98 and HG, respectively- As the mandrels I58 and I58 start downward to spread the webs as aforesaid, the escapement bars I68 and I 82 likewise move downward, uncovering the ends of their chutes to permit articles to slide over the'tops of the bars I60 and IE2, and drop into the packages being formed in the webs by .the mandrels I55 and I58; The mandrels then move upwardly and the bars I60 and I62 once again cover their chutes I68 and III! to prevent articles from dropping out.

The top edges of the bars I68 and I52 are preferably inclined as at IE4 at the same inclination as. the chutes I08 andlI III, to ease the path of 'the'articles thereover.

be called escape- The mandrels I56 and I52 are mounted as by screws I84 on a common vertical :post I86 therebetween. The post IE5 is suitably secured to an outrigger plate HQ which extends crosswise of the machine. Further vertical posts I12 and H4 project upwardly from the bars 26 and 28, respectively. Theoutrigger plate I'IIi has a vertical tubular bushing or guide I75 at one end, and the guide I18 surrounds the post I14 in slidable engagement therewith. The other end of the plate lie has a vertical guide cage I78 which surrounds the post It'll-on three sides (see Fig. 2).

The shaft IE5 carries a cam I80 rotatable therewith, and a cam follower I82 which is carried by the outrigger plate I'III is positioned in engagement with the cam I89. As illustrated, the'cam I8EI has one indentation I84, so that the cam follower I22, and hence the mandrels I56 and I58 will drop downwardly to spread the webs 34 and #2 once for each revolution of the rollers III and I2. More indentations can be provided on-the cam I80, if desired, for faster action. v

The indentation I84 is positioned so that the mandrels I59 and I58 will perform their 'down ward stroke only when pockets on the rollers I8 and I2 are coming together.

. The mandrels are shown in their up position in Fig. 5 and in their down position in Fig. 3.

The entire action of the outrigger plate 170 is upon the bushing I16, the cage I'IS merely serving to maintain the outrigger plate I1 I! in proper alignment.

Vertically adjustable counting pins I86 and I88 correspond to the mandrels I56 and I58, respectively, to regulate the number of articles which will fall over the escapement bars I50 and IE2, as aforesaid. The pins I86 and I88 are infreely slidable relationship in vertical tubular guides I99 and I92, respectively, which are secured to the post I66 on either side thereof. The pins I85 and I88 are prevented fromfalling through theguides I98 and I92 by collars I94 and I95, respectively, which rest upon the tops of the guides I93 and I92. Thus the lower ends of the pins IBBand -I88 are positioned directlyabove and near the lower ends of their respective chutes I98 and III), and the pins I86 and I88 follow the movementof the mandrels .I56and I58. When the mandrels 'are in their up position, the escapement bars I60 and IE2 block their chutes I98 and HG, as aforesaid, and the lower ends of the pins I86 and I88 are above the columns of articles in the'chutes. Some time after the mandrels start their downward stroke, the-lower ends of the pins I86 and I88 intersect the article columns in their chutes I08 and III), to interrupt thefiow of articles past the bars IBD- and I52. The angular position of the pins I86 and I88 and their respective 'gu-ides I91! and I92 determines the number of articles to be counted into the packages being formed. 2

Therefore, if it is desired to put two articles in each package, the pins I85 and I88 will headjusted angularly by means of their collars IIi Iand I96 to increase the counting position. 1

Sometimes it is desired to stop the flow of articles while therollers II) and I2 are still running. To accomplish this end, a feeding trigger or lever 200 is provided, by means of which the outrigger plate I'IO may be raised so that the cam follower 182 is out of contact with the cam I80. The lever 225i is .pivotally mounted upon the plate I'Iil, as at 2m, and has a cam-like edge 202 which bears against the bar v28 to interpose an increasing radius between the pivot 2M and the bar 28 as the lever 200 is moved clockwise, as

9 seen'in Fig. 4. Thus, as movement in that direction takes place, the outrigger plate I'IU is raised, and the cam follower I82 is lifted out of engagement with the cam I80.

At the same time, the mandrels I56 and I58, and their escapement bars I60 and I62, are also raised. The bars I60 and E62 are sufiicientlylong vertically so that when the lever 260 is lowered, the articles cannot pass underneath the bars I66 and I62.

The position of the outrigger plate I16 with the lever 200 in its downward position is shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4.

To summarize the invention by way of a brief statement of the operation of the illustrated embodiment of the machine, articles are fed into the troughs "I and I2 from the hopper 68, and advanced along the troughs by vibration to the upper ends of the stationary chutes I08. and H0, which are adjustable in cross-sectional configuration to accommodate articles of varying sizes and shapes. The chutes are inclined downwardly, and the articles line up single file in predetermined position in the chutes. Article egress from the chutes is prevented by the escapement bars- I60 and IE2 when the corresponding vertically reciprocating mandrels I56 and I58 are at the upper ends of their strokes. When the mandrels move downwardly to spread the webs into the pockets, a number of articles, predetermined by the pins I 86 and I88, fall over the tops of the escapement bars I60 and I52 to enter the packages being formed. 'A package 210 containing a tablet 84 is shown in Fig. 3 just after emerging from the sealing location 25.

Many modifications and variations will be apparent or will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment set forth by way of example, except as may be defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a high speed continuous feed packaging machine having a pair of sealing rollers with peripherally spaced matched article-defining pockets thereon, a pair of spaced webs, means for continuously feeding said webs between said rollers, vertical reciprocating means for spreading said webs into said pockets to form packages and stationary adjustable dimensioned article feed means for depositing articles into said formed packages.

2. In a high speed continuous feed packaging machine having a pair of sealing rollers with peripherally spaced matched article-defining pockets thereon, a pair of spaced webs, means for continuously feeding said webs between said rollers, a movable mandrel for spreading said webs into said pockets to form article-receiving packages, and stationary feed means adjustable to handle various sizes of articles and operative to feed articles to said packages for deposit therein. 3. In a machine for continuously forming article-containing packages of two webs of flexible packaging material, a pair of cooperating sealing rollers having a series of peripherally spaced article-defining pockets to receive the articles to be packaged, means for feeding the webs between the rollers, a reciprocable mandrel operable in timed relation with the rollers and cooperatively associated with the pockets to spread the webs to conform thereto, and a relatively stationary chute to supply articles to the pockets between the webs, the chute being adjustit able to accommodate articles of varying sizes and shapes.

4. In a machine for enclosing articles between two webs of flexible packaging material, including a pair of sealing rollers having matched article-defining pockets on their peripheries, a reciprocable mandrel operable in timed relationship with the rollers to spread the webs into thepockets and form packages, relatively stationary article-feeding member for depositing articles in said packages, and means for adjusting the cross-sectional area and shape of said member for accommodating articles of various shapes and sizes. 7 g

5. The invention set forth in claim 4 wherein said mandrel is hollow so as to permit articles to pass therethrough to enter the packages.

6. In a machine for forming article-containing packages of webs of flexible packaging material, in combination, a pair of matched counter-rotating sealing rollers abutting each other at a tangential sealing location and having article-defining pockets thereon, a stationary filling chute of adjustable cross-sectional area inclined to advance a column of articles by gravity in predetermined position toward said sealing location, and a hollow mandrel mounted to reciprocate above said sealing location and cooperatively associated with said article-defining pockets for forming packages by spreading the webs therein, said mandrel having an escapement bar which alternately blocks and opens the lower end of said chute.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6 wherein the inclination of said chute is about 45..

8. In a machine for forming article-containing packages of webs of flexible packaging material, a pair of counter-rotating sealing rollers having matched article-defining pockets thereon, a. reciprocable mandrel operable in timed relationship with said rollers and cooperatively as sociated with said article-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, and an adjustable article-feeding member which is stationary relative to the reciprocal mandrel for depositing articles in the packages formed by said mandrel and said article-defining pockets.

9. In a machine for forming article-containing packages of webs of flexible material, in combination, a pair of counter rotating sealing rollers abutting each other at a tangential sealing location, and having matched article-defining pockets thereon, a hollow vertically reciprocable mandrel cooperatively associated with said pockets to spread the webs thereinto at one end of its stroke to form open packages, means for advancing a. column of articles toward said sealing location, and an escapement bar reciprocable with said mandrel alternately to block and to permit the passage of articles from said advancing means, the latter when the mandrel is at said end of its stroke.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9 which further includes a reciprocable outrigger plate on which the mandrel is mounted, and guides for said. outrigger plate.

11. The invention set forth in claim 9 wherein means reciprocable with said mandrel is included to regulate the number of articles which will pass from said advancing means when the escapement bar is in position to permit such passage. I

12. The invention set forth in claim 9 which further includes a reciprocable outrigger plate on which the mandrel is mounted, a cam rotatable with one of said rollers, a cam follower slidably engaging said cam, means connecting the cam follower to said outrigger plate to reciprocate said outrigger plate, and guides for said outrigger plate.

13. The invention set forth in claim 12 in which a lever is provided by which said outrigger plate can be shifted and the cam follower removed from engagement with the cam to halt the re-- ciprocation of the mandrel and permanently block the passage of articles from saidadvancing means.

14. In a machine for forming article-containing packages of webs of flexible material, in combination, a pair of counter-rotating sealin rollers abutting each other at a vertical, tangential sealing location, and having matched article-defining pockets peripherally spaced therearound, a hollow vertically reciprocable mandrel positioned above said sealing location to spread the websinto said pockets at the lower end of itsstroke to form open packages, an inclined chute of adjustable cross-sectional area to advance a column of articles toward said sealing location by gravity, and an escapement bar reciprocable with the mandrel alternately to prevent articles from falling and to permit articles to fall from the lower end of said chute, the latter when the mandrel starts its downward stroke.

15. In a machine for forming article-containing packages of webs of flexible packaging material, a pair of counter-rotating sealing rollers having matched article-defining pockets thereon,

a reciprocal mandrel operable in timed relationship with said rollers and cooperatively associated with said article-defining pockets for forming packages of predetermined volumetric characteristics, a non-reciprocal chute in which articles are advanced toward said sealing location in predetermined position, and means for adjusting the cross-sectional area and shape of said chute to accommodate articles of varying sizes and. shapes.

16. In a machine for forming article-containing packages of webs of flexible material, and in which the webs are spread into matched articledefining pockets on a pair of counter-rotating rollers abutting each other at a tangential sealing location by a reciprocable mandrel, a relatively stationary chute in which articles are advanced toward said sealing location in predetermined position, said chute comprising a base portion having a vertical and a lateral dimension, to

form two adjacent sides of the chute, a vertically adjustable guide rail positioned above the lateral dimension of said base portion and havin its lower edge parallel thereto, and a laterally adjustable guide rail having an edge facing and parallel to the vertical dimension of said base portion.

17. The invention set forth in claim 15 wherein said chute is inclined and the articles are fed therethrough by gravity.

18. The invention set forth in claim 15 wherein said chute is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 and the articles are fed therethrough by avity.

19. Ina machine for forming article-containing packages of webs of flexible material, and in which the articles advance toward the sealinglocation in predetermined position in an inclined chute, a supply hopper, a horizontal vibrating trough to transport articles to be packaged from said hopper to the upper end of said chute in said predetermined position, said trough bein substantially V-shaped in vertical section and means for the escape of article dust and broken articles from said trough, said means including a slot lengthwise of the trough and near the bottom of the V.

20; In a machine for forming article-containing packages of webs of flexible material, and in which the articles advance toward the sealing location in predetermined position in an inclined chute, a supply hopper, a horizontal vibrating trough to transport articles to be packaged from said hopper to the upper end of said chute in said predetermined position, said trough having a ver tical side and an inclined side joined to said vertical side at the bottom and means provided for the escape of article dust and broken articles from said trough, said means including a slot lengthwise and near the bottom of the trough, and a vertically adjustable plate covering an adjustable portion of the slot.

21. A machine for continuously forming product containing packages of two webs of flexible ackaging strips, a pair. of cooperating sealing rollers having a series of peripherally spaced product-defining pockets to seal the product to be packaged, means for feeding said webs be tween said rollers, a movable mandrel operable in timed relation with said rollers and cooperatively associated to said pockets to spread the webs to conform thereto, and relatively stationary means for feeding the product to said pockets between said webs.

22. A packaging machine comprising a pair of cooperating rollers mounted with their axes horizontal and having a series of peripherally spaced commodity-defining pockets to receive the product to be packaged, means for feeding two independent webs downwardly between the cooperating rollers, a mandrel which reciprocates vertically and is adapted to enter the pockets in suc cession and spread the webs to form envelopes for the product, and non-reciprocating means for feeding a stream of product between the webs, Without interfering with the operation of the reciprocating mandrel.

JOHN H. STROOP.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stroop Sept. 2,1952 

